Snap! 2012 weekend
Main Exhibit (In photo : Damien Blottiere)

Many thanks to all of you who attended and have supported Snap! We broke record attendance. It was our sincere pleasure to host and exhibit the work of brilliant talents from around the globe, many of whom joined us at the opening night. Thanks to our visiting guests Miru Kim, Damien Blottière, Gabriel Wickbold, Ad Achkar, Andrew Hetherington, Travis Dove, Benjamin Lowy, Jenny Risher Smith, Gregory Scott, Frank Day and Lucas Dulac for honoring us with their gracious presence.  Thank you to the many other photographers who trusted us with showcasing their work.  And our gratitude to our sponsors, and all the volunteers who made this event a reality!

2012 Featured Exhibit: Destroyed
by musician Moby

Best known for selling over 20 million albums worldwide, renowned musician Moby has also carved a respectable name for himself in the photography world. Snap! is pleased to present a selection of images from Moby’s current album-affiliated photo project “Destroyed” as part of our 2012 “Urban Wild” theme. Moby’s photos, taken while creating his latest album, introduce us to an side of touring that is often unexposed; secluded time spent in artificial spaces like hotel rooms and backstage waiting areas. The images also provide a striking and intimate look at Moby’s world and his creative process as an artist.

Moby says (as told to HuffPost Arts), “I take pictures as a way of both making sense of the strange environments in which I find myself and also as a way to stave off touring boredom and exhaustion.” Note: Autographed copies of the photobook “Destroyed” will be available exclusively in the Snap! V.I.P. lounge.

Snap! 2012: Tom Chambers
Featured Artist

Tom Chambers was born and raised on a farm in the Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His work is represented by a number of galleries in the United States and Europe and has been shown through solo and group exhibitions worldwide, as well via a wide range of print and online publications. Chambers’ “Entropic Kingdom” series joins Snap!’s 2012 “Urban Wild” exhibition, the images reflecting the animal kingdom and mankind engaged in an ongoing dance of co-existence which results in a predictable tension.

Of the “Entropic Kingdom” series, Chambers says: “Having grown up on a Pennsylvania farm, I am inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s rural landscapes, characterized by subtle, but powerful emotion. I hope to strike a similar emotional connection in the viewer by illustrating a disturbed ecosytem created by man’s self-serving interests. These photomontages are composed of animals, children and adults, all of whom are potential victims and at risk.”

Chambers has received recognition for his photography through a variety of awards, such as Worldwide Photography Gala Awards and  Critical Mass Top 50. Learn more about Snap!’s 2012 “Urban Wild” artists.

PDN 30 Emerging Photographers
Featured Exhibit

Sponsored by Sony, Adobe and Canson. These “30 Photographers To Watch” are based on photographs submitted to PDN (Photo District News magazine).

A compelling collection of images made all the more interesting by the substantial risk these photographers took in order to produce their work — personal, financial, creative and otherwise. Among them: Chloe Dewe Mathews hitchhiked from China to England in search of ideas. Markel Redondo traveled with migrant workers from Honduras to the U.S. Peter DiCampo worked by flashlight for three years in Ghana and elsewhere. Ryan Pfluger and AnaStasia Rudenko challenged themselves to photograph difficult family relationships. Peter Ash Lee published a magazine. Mark Fisher regularly hangs out of a helicopter.

See their captivating images at Snap! 2012.

[photo by Octavian Cantilli]

“Homegrown”

Snap! Local Photographer Exhibit at OMA

Once again we will celebrate local Central FL photographers with a group show curated by Snap!. The “Homegrown” exhibit will be on display at the Martin and Gracia Andersen Lakeview Promenade of the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) May 03-25, 2012. This year’s showcase of images includes images from promising and professional photographers, including: Octavian Cantilli, Brooks Potteiger, Yatin, Brian Carlson, Steven Benson, Shelley Lake, Jeff Hartog, and Red Chair Visits 2012 selections.

The community is invited to a Exhibit Opening Thursday, May 03 from 6-9PM (in conjunction with OMA’s First Thursday event).

Oleg Dou
Snap! 2012 Featured Artist

Discovered in 2006 by Liza Fetissova, Oleg Dou is represented today by galleries in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Russia and United States. In 2011, Artprice graded Oleg Dou in the top 3 of the under 30 year old photographers with best sales in public auctions. Oleg Dou lives and works in Moscow.

Of his work, Dou says, “ I am looking for something bordering between the living and dead. I want to attain the feeling of presence one can get when walking by a plastic mannequin.”

See Dou’s haunting images at Snap!’s 2012 “Urban Wild” exhibition.  Learn more about Snap!’s other 50+ “Urban Wild” artists at snaporlando.com

Snap! 2nd Live Fashion Shoot Out
Apr 26, 7PM (Orange Studio, 1121 N. Mills Ave, 32803)

Snap! and ASMP Central Florida are hosting a Photographer Live Shoot Out at the distinctive square Orange Studio on Mills Ave. Participating photographers are provided with a background, a tethered camera, a light and two models (makeup by Art of Beauty by Sunha and styling by Fused Fashion) as their only tools with which to showcase clever artistry in a few quick shots. Instant image projections from each 5-minute shootout trigger the captive audience of photography enthusiasts to applaud for their favorite shots.

With free Peroni beer on hand and the buzz of the Shoot Out in the air, it is sure to be an exciting evening. Come join us. $5 donation at the door to support Snap! 2012. Click here for all info, and RSVP to: betsy@betsyhansen.com. Limited to 40 shooters.

Snap! Portfolio Reviews
May 5, 9AM (Urban Rethink, 625 E. Central, 32801)

If you are a photographer (student or professional) be sure to sign up for your spot in Snap!’s 2012 Portfolio Reviews, which will be held May 5, 2012 at Urban Rethink. Engage in one-on-one meetings with industry professionals for a focused review of the photographer’s portfolio of work. Each review session lasts for 20 minutes. Portfolio reviews provide an opportunity for photographers to network and meet potential clients, mentors and industry professionals while also receiving career-advancing guidance and critique. Space is limited.

For times and a list of this year’s reviewers and/or to book your portfolio review slots, visit snaporlando.com

2012 Feature Artist: Miru Kim
The Pig That Therefore I Am

Snap! is thrilled to announce that lauded New York-based photographer Miru Kim (known best for her celebrated Naked City Spleen project) will be joining us at Snap! 2012 to share images of her latest photo series The Pig That Therefore I Am, a surprising, and at times disturbing, collection of images depicting Kim’s naked form skin-to-skin with 300-pound pigs caged on a industrial farm. The series seeks to illustrate and push the thin boundary that separates human from beast. By exploring shared sensation and physical connection through the largest organ of the body, Kim seeks to illustrate the more Buddhist perspective that all living things are connected via circular life force.

Here is a behind the scenes video of Kim at work on her disquieting The Pig That Therefore I Am project:

Meet Miru Kim in person at the Opening Night of Snap!’s “Urban Wild” exhibition. She will also be leading one of our Saturday lectures at Orlando Museum of Art (OMA). For exhibition tickets and lecture passes, click here.

This Thursday night, April 19, watch the downtown Kress Building morph, change and come alive right before your eyes. This spectacular event, produced by Snap! Orlando and hosted by Mayor Buddy Dyer, will dazzle the crowd with a larger-than-life projection mapping of dynamic 3-D animation and images from Snap!’s 2012 “Urban Wild” exhibition on the facade of the downtown Kress Building. This large scale 3D projection mapping is a FREE community event to kick off the Snap! 2012 Season.

The projection will be viewed from The Plaza property (130 S. Orange, Downtown Orlando 32801) and the surrounding portions of Orange Ave. will be closed during each showing to ensure safe viewing. Mayor Dyer will launch the event at 8:30 PM. and showings of the projection will run consecutively every half hour from 8:30 PM until MIDNIGHT.

In addition to hundreds of Orlando residents, this projection event will be attended by Orlando City Officials and 130 International Downtown Association delegates representing every major city in the U.S. and cities throughout Canada and Italy. This will be an evening for Orlando to truly shine, so come out and show your support.

This event also coincides with the opening of Snap!’s “Call for Entries” exhibit at City Arts Factory, (6 to 9 PM), during Downtown Arts District’s 3rd Thursday. So visit the gallery show, then stroll to the plaza for the projection and witness a VISUAL FEAST!

See last year’s 2011 Snap! Projection Mapping Show:

For this year’s projection we have partnered with Angel’s View, a creative production company from Canada, and they have truly pulled out of all the stops in creating a show that will amaze you.
See you all there, on APRIL 19th!

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS.

Snap! tapped into balance and creativity again. The November 17th Fashion Photo Shootout held inside the distinctive square Orange Studio on Mills Ave. challenged photographers to think outside the box.  A white background, a light and two models made up by Art of Beauty by Sunha and beautifully styled by Fused Fashion were the only tools accessible to photographers to showcase clever artistry in a snap. Instant projections from the five minute shootout triggered the captive audience of professionals to applause for their favorite shots.

Throughout the evening, guests were treated to Peroni beer with an opportunity to taste delights from the Fantastic Hummus food truck. Overall it was an evening not to be missed hosted by Snap! and ASMP Central Florida. The buzz about the Fashion Photo Shootout continues to spread and we plan to do it again with a twist! Look for more upcoming events leading up to Snap! 2012 this coming year!

Many thanks to our film makers Snapwell Films and host Talitha Vickers.

Snap! Orlando concluded another successful Celebrate the Photograph season on May 08, after a whirlwind 5-days of exquisite art, captivating entertainment, engaging programs and seriously fun parties.

The turn out at this year’s event was impressive and we’ve been receiving a steady stream of calls, texts, emails and FB messages voicing appreciation and accolades for the caliber of our event. THANK YOU!! It means the world to us to hear the event was so broadly enjoyed and well received.

The big crowd pleaser was our May 04 Kick Off Event which alone drew hundreds of residents out to view our Snap! 2011 Digital Mapping Building Projection (created by PaintScaping.com). Mayor Buddy Dyer hosted the event with special guest Jayde Donovan from Mix 106.7. The projection was such a hit that most spectators stuck around to watch it multiple times (it was shown every half hour). If you missed the show, or just want to see it again, enjoy it here:

Snap!’s Main Exhibition of 12 curated international artists was also a huge success, with crowds raving about the sophisticated urban industrial ambiance Snap! created in our 25,000 sq.ft. space at the GAI Building. Event attendees also expressed delight at the opportunity to personally meet featured artists: Jerry Uelsmann, Maggie Taylor, Elena Vizerskaya, Kathy Eldon, Barry Kirsch, Brian Smith, and 100 Portrait curators Andy Adams and Larissa Leclair. Snap!’s Fashion Night (curated by Fused Fashion) also wowed the crowd.

For images of the entire event, visit our Official Snap! 2011 Photo Album on Facebook.

Team Snap! is elated by the success of our year 2 event and are already hard at work planning year three. Mark your calendars to Celebrate the Photograph with us once again May 03-06, 2012.

And if you loved what you experienced this year, and want to become an even bigger part of the Snap! action in the year to come, contact us. We are currently in talks with community art patrons and corporate entities re: sponsorship and event investment partnerships for 2012.

On that note, Snap! would like to thank the incredibly supportive and generous event sponsors of Snap! 2011: Downtown Orlando, United Arts, The Lucie Foundation, Orlando Style, Clear Channel, Ustler Group, Specialty Art Services, Impact Lighting, Kres, Bougainvillea Clinique, Chocolate Provocateur,  Comm Xperts, Orlando CVB, Harriet Lake, Baker & Hostetler, Fuze, Peroni, Tastings,  E/G, Puff’n’ Stuff, Karls Events, AFR Furniture Rental, Digital Propaganda, Colonial Photo & Hobby, Naneu, Sonesta Hotel, ASMP, Mall at Millenia, Lure Design, Urban Rethink , Kinzie + Riehm … as well as a host of additional in-kind donors, thank you!!

Lastly, appreciation and congratulations to Team Snap!, the hardest working and most fun event team in Orlando, for bringing it even bigger and better than expected! You are all so appreciated. Well done!!